Music-sheet turner.



G. H. ROWE.

`MUSIC SHEET TURNER. APPLlcATIoN FILED 5m19.191s.

1,196,987. Putentedsepn5,191.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

5 n ma n to@ GHROWE4 @n Mam G. H. ROWE.

MUSIC SHEET TURNER.

APPUcATloN FILED FB.19,191s.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. H R o vv E :1n-@met G. H. ROWE.

MUSIC SHEET TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED ri. I9. 191e.

Patented Septy 5, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l n ua nto@ GHBOWE.

C1 Houtem ill UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE.

GENERAL HALLECK ROWE, OF REDKEY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 ENOS MARION ROWE, OF REDKEY, INDIANA.

MUSIC-SHEET TURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Application filed February 19, 1916. Serial No. 79,405.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, GENERAL HALLECK Rowii, a citizen of the United States, residing at Redkey, in the county of Jay and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Music-Sheet Turners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to .an improved music sheet turner and has for its primary object to provide a device of this character designed for application to the desk board of a piano whereby the music sheets may be successively turned simply by the pressure of a button.

It is another and more particular object of the invention to provide a music sheet turning mechanism embodying sheet carrying arms adapted to be attached to the upper edges of the respective music sheets, separate operating means for the turning arms, and a common actuating element adapted, in one operation, to turn the uppermost music sheet, and in a subsequent operation to turn the next succeeding sheet.

1t is another important object of the invention to provide improved means for securely holding or clamping the front and back cover sheets of the music upon the desk board of the piano.

The invention has for .an additional object to provide simple and effective resetting means whereby the music sheets may be returned to their original positions when it is desired to repeat the music.

It is a further general object of the invention to produce a mechanism for the above purpose which is relatively simple in its construction. may be readily applied to the ordinary piano, and is highly convenient and serviceable in practical use.

With the above and other objects in view, inv invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a piano desk board having my improved sheet turning attachment applied thereto; Fig. 2. is a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the relative positions of the parts after the music sheet has been turned.;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detail transverse section showing the operating button in the normal positions of the parts; Fig. 6 is a similar view showin;r the pawl on the operating button in position to engage and operate the locking lever of the second sheet turning mechanism; and Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the position of the pawl after the second leaf turning mechanism has been actuated.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates the desk board of a piano and 6 the usual outwardly projecting ledge on the lower edge of the desk board upon which the music sheets ordinarily rest. The principal operating mechanism of the present invention is housed within a boxing or casing arranged upon the ledge 6, said casing including a vertical wall 7 which is suitably secured to the ledge 6, and a top or cover 8 secured upon the upper edge of said vertical wall. These two sections of the boxing or casing are preferably constructed of wood.

The turning mechanism for the music sheets includes a vertical rod or shaft 9 journaled at its upper end in a bearing 10 fixed upon the desk boai'd 5 and at its lower end in a suitable step bearing 11 in the upper surface of the ledge 6. This shaft 9 extends through an independently rotatable sleeve or tube 12. The top board 8 of the boxing or casing is provided with an opening therein to accommodate the shaft 9 and the tube 12. To the upper end of the shaft 9 above the tube 12, a bracket member 13 is fixed. This bracket member projects radially from the shaft and is provided upon its outer end with a vertically disposed rectangular sleeve 14.

15 designates the sheet turning arm having an angular end portion 16 which is adapted to be inserted upwardly through the sleeve 14. This angular portion permits the arm to be adjusted vertically in the sleeve 14 as may be required in accordance with the particular size of the music sheet. The arm may also be thus raised or lifted without detaching the saine from the sleeve 14 in order to enable said arm to be properly attached to the music sheet. A leaf spring 17 fixed at one of its ends within said sleeve, bears at its other end against the end portion of the arm and yieldingly holds the same in clamp engagement against the opposite wall of the sleeve, thus preventing any tilting or turning movement of the arm 15, or a longitudinal shifting movement of the end 16 of the arm within the sleeve. A clip 18 of any preferred construction is carried on the outer end of the arm 15, whereby the arm may be readily attached to the upper edge of the music sheet. @ne end of a coil spring 19 is attached to the board 5 and the free end thereof fixed to the rod or shaft 9 surrounded by said spring. This spring acts to rotate the shaft and swing the leaf carrying arm from the position shown in Fig. 1 over to a position on the left hand side of the shaft. A bracket member 20 is also fixed to the upper end of the sleeve 12 and, to this bracket member, a second leaf carrying arm is connected in the manner above explained. This latten bracket and the arm extend under the bracket and the arm connected to the shaft 9 when the parts are in set position for operation so that the clip 18 on the latter arm will be connected to the upper edge of the second of the music sheets. A coil spring 21 surrounding the upper end of the tube or sleeve 12 also acts to turn or rotate this sleeve and the sheet carrying arm connected thereto in the same manner as the spring 19 operates to turn the first of the sheet carrying arms.

To the lower end of the shaft 9 within the casing or boxing on the shelf board 6, a gear wheel 22 is fixed. A lug or finger 23 projects radially from the shaft 9 immediately below the gear' 22, and a similar lug or finger 24 is'also fixed to the lower end of the tubular shaft 12 immediately above said gear. rlfhese lugs project outwardly or forwardly when the parts are in their set positions. Upon a vertical ystud bolt or pin 25 secured in the shelf board G, a lever 26 is fulcrumed intermediate of its ends, and immediately above this lever 26 a second lever 27 is fulcrumed intermediate of its ends upon the pivot bolt 25 and, at its central portion, is offset so that one end of the le ver will extend horizontally above the plane of the gear 22, the corresponding end of the first named lever 26 being disposed in a plane below said gear. 1n the latter end of each of said levers and in its inner edge, a stop shoulder 28 and 29, respectively, is formed. These shoulders, in the normal positions of said levers, are engaged by the respective lugs or fingers 23 and 24 and prevent rotation of the shaft 9 and the tube 12 under the action of the springs 19 and 21 respectively. The other end of the lever 26 is formed with an elongated head 30 which is engaged in a notch or recess 32 formed in one longitudinal edge of a slidable operating push button 31 which is mounted in one end of the boxing or `casing and is operable through an opening 33 in the front wall thereof. rllhis button is yieldingly held in an outwardly projected position by means of a wire spring 34, one terminal of which is connected to the button and the other suitably fixed to the ledge 6. The outer end of the sliding button 31 is relatively thick and heavy, while the inwardly projecting portion of said button, to which the lever 26 is cooperatively connected, is comparatively thin. 1n this latter portion of the shiftable button, a longitudinally ext-ending slot 35 is formed which opens upon the inner end edge of the button. A screw or other guide element 3G is fixed in the ledge 6' and extends through said slot. This screw guides the button in its movement and prevents any vertical displacement thereof while the spring 34 prevents vibration of the button during the playing of the piano.

Upon the relatively thick outer end portion of the button, a. dog or pawl 37 is piv oted at one of its ends, as at 38, and extends inwardly therefrom, said pawl gradually increasing in thickness and width to its free end. rlhe terminals of a wire spring 39 are engaged upon the pivot 38 at opposite edges of the pawl and the medial portion of this spring bears upon the upper surface of the pawl 37 and acts to exert a. yielding downward pressure thereon to hold the pawl against vibration. The outer end of the upper lever 27 is formed with a tapering lug or projection 40 which overlies the head 30 on the lower lever 26, and this projection is adapted for engagement by the free end of the pawl 37, as will be later more fully explained. One corner of the pawl 37 is provided with a bevel-faced recess 41 for sliding engagement with the beveled or inclined end face 43 of a fixed bracket 42 which is suitably secured to the ledge 6. i

At a point between the pivot 25 of the levers 26 and 27 `and the shaft 9, wire springs 44 and 45, respectively, are connected at one of their ends to the levers and suitably fixed at their other ends by a common attaching screw to the shelf 6. These springs act to normally urge the innerends of the levers inwardly against the shaft 9 and the tube 12, respectively.

As thus far described, the operation of the mechanism is as follows: Assuming that the 44 and the Vshoulder 28 in said lever disengaged from the pin or finger 23 on the rod 9. Upon thus releasing the rod, the spring 19 will immediately act to turn or rotate the same, and swing the uppermost arm 15 through an arc of 180 or a half circle, thus turning the first music sheet over and disposing the same at the left hand side of the shaft 9. Upon the release of pressure upon the button 31, the spring 34 promptly acts to project said button outwardly through the opening in the front wall of the boxing or casing, and the inner end of said lever will be forced inwardly by the spring 44 until it bears against the periphery of the shaft 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The two levers are now in the relative positions shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and the free end of the pawl 37 is resting upon the end of the lower lever 26. It will now be seen that, upon a second inward pressure on the button 31, the pawl 37 will strike the terminal lug 40 on the upper lever 27 and operate said lever in the same manner as the lever 26 was previously operated to disengage the shoulder 29 on the inner end of said lever from the lug or finger 24 fixed to the tubular shaft 12, thus permitting the spring 21 to act and rotate this tubular shaft and swing the second music sheet carried by the arm 15 connected to said shaft, over upon the first sheet. In this second inward movement of the button, the lower lever 26 is, of course, also again moved and its outer end forced inwardly.

` The beveled corner 41 on the free end of the pawl 37 will strike the beveled surface 43 on the bracket 42 after the sheet carrying arm has been actuated, and force the free end of said pawl upwardly, thereby releasing the same from engagement with the upper lever 27 so that the spring 45 will act to force the inner end of said lever inwardly against the tubular shaft 12. Pressure upon the button is now released so that the spring 34 returns the same to its normal positions and again engages the inner end of the lower lever 26 against the shaft 9.

A toothed quadrant 46 is arranged within the boxing or casing and fulcrumed on a pivot screw 47 secured in the shelf 6. The teeth of this quadrant mesh with the teeth of the gear 22. The pivotedend of the quadrant is provided with an outwardly projecting arm 48 terminating in a finger piece which projects through an opening 49 in the front wall of the casing or boxing. A fixed finger lug 50 projects outwardly through this opening at one of its ends and is secured to the shelf 6. In the operation of the machanism to turn the music sheets as above explained, when the shaft 9 is rotated to turn the first sheet, the rack 46 meshing with the gear 22 is, of course, also moved upon its pivot 47 and the outer end of the arm 48 is moved to the right hand end of the slot 49 in spacedrelation to the fixed finger lug 50. The purpose of this construction will be obvious. Vhen it is desirable or necessary to return the music sheets to their original positions at the right hand side of the shaft 9 in order` to repeat the playing of the music, the operator engages the thumb with the finger piece 50 and the forefinger with the outer end of the arm 48 and forces said arm to the left toward the finger piece 50. Thus the quadrant 46 is moved to rotate the gear 22 and shaft 9. As the sheet carrying arm 15 on the upper end of this shaft is disposed next adjacent to the desk board and underlies the arm connected to the tubular shaft 12 when the music sheets are in their turned positions, it will be apparent that, in the operation of the quadrant 46 as above explained, the rotation of the shaft 9 will result in returning both of the music sheets to their original position on the right hand side of the shaft.

In addition to the foregoing, I have also devised simple and effective means for clamping or holding the front and back cover sheets of a piece of music upon the face of the desk board. To this end, I provide the relatively short vertical shafts 51. arranged in spaced relation to the tubular shaft 12 at either side thereof, which are mounted adjacent their opposite ends in suitable bearings 52 fixed to the desk board. To the upper ends of these shafts. inwardly projecting clamping arms 53 are fixed. The lower end of each shaft 51 extends through an opening in the top 8 of the boxing or casing and, to the same, a crank arm 54 is fixed, These crank arms are connected to each other by means of a rod 55 which is irregularly bent, as indicated in Fig. 2, in order to avoid interference with any of the parts of the sheet turning mechanism. The coil spring 56 is arranged upon the lower end of each of the shafts 51 and acts to normally hold the arms 53 on the upper ends of said shafts in clamping engagement with the cover pages of the music.

A leaf spring 57 is fixed at one of its ends to the shelf 6 within the boxing or casing and has a returned, upwardly projecting l free end portion terminating in a transversely disposed U-shaped bend or channel 58. A lever 59 is fulcrumed intermediate of its ends upon the pivot screw 60 fixed in the shelf 6, and one end of said lever projects outwardly through an opening 61 in the front wall of the boxing. A link 62 is pivotally connected to the inner end of said lever at one of its ends, and the other end of said link is connected by a suitable pivot joint 63 to the under side of the connecting rod 55. It will be not-ed that the link 62 extends from the lever 59 toward the crank 54 on the lower end of the shaft 51. Upon a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2 of the u through the medium of the link 62, movement is imparted to the connecting rod V55 which, in turn, being connected to the cranks 54, simultaneously rotates the shafts 5l and moves the clamping arms 53 outwardly from .i the face of the desk board through an arc of substantially 90o and to positions at right angles to the board. In this released position of the arms 53, the pivot joint 63 which rides over the leaf spring 57 will engage in the channel-shaped extremity 58 of said spring. rlhus, the spring will act to retain the parts in this position until the movement of the lever 59 is reversed and the joint 63 moved out of the channel or groove 58 in the end of the spring.

F rom the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of the invention will be clearly and fully understood. The sheet turning mechanism may be readily applied to the ordinary piano, and is very convenient and serviceable for the purpose of turning the music sheets. The action ofthe several elements is positive and reliable, as has been demonstrated in practice. All exposed metal parts of the attachment will preferably be nickel plated so that the device will in nowise detract from the ornamental appearance of the instrument. By providing the means for clamping the front and back cover sheets of the music on the face of the desk board, the possibility of these sheets being carried over when the music sheets are turned, by adherence of air suction, is obviated, so that only the sheets to which the arms l5 are attached will be turned. lt is, of course, apparent that the mounting and arrangement of the several operating parts of the turning mechanism may be greatly varied and these parts otherwise mounted and attached to the piano casing, than as above referred to. The several cooperating elements may also be very greatly modified in the form, proportion and details of construction and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is l. ln a sheet turning mechanism, separate means for independently turning two music sheets, two locking levers releasably holding the respective sheet turning means against operation, a push button directly coacting with one of the leversin one operation of the button to move said lever and permit one of the sheets to be turned, and means carried by the push button to cooperate with the other lever in a subsequent operation of the button and move said latter lever to permit of the turning movement of the second sheet.

2. ln sheet turning mechanism, separate means for independently turning a plurality of music sheets, individual locking means releasably holding the respective sheet turning means against operation, a manually operable element to which one of the locking means is directly connected and by which it is actuated to permit of the turning movement of one of the sheets, and means carried by said manually operable element to cooperatively engage the other locking means in a subsequent operating movement of said element and permit of the turning movement of a second sheet.

3. In a sheet turning mechanism, separate means for independently turning a plurality of music sheets, individual locking means releasably holding the respective sheet turning means against operation, a manually operable element to which one of the locking means is directly connected and by which it is actuated to permit of the turning movement of one of the sheets, and means carried by said element and movable with respect thereto adapted to move into position upon a return of the element to its normal position to operatively engage the other locking means in a subsequent operating movement of said element and thereby release the other sheet turning means to permit of the turning movement of a second sheet.

4. In sheet turning mechanism, separate means for independently turning a plurality of music sheets, individual locking means releasably holding the respective sheet turning mea-ns, against operation, a spring-held, manually operable element co-acting with one of the locking means in one operation of the element to permit one of the sheets to be turned, a stationary part, and a springheld movable part mounted upon said element adapted to operatively engage the other locking means in a subsequent operation 'of said element to permit of the turning movement of a second sheet, said springheld part in the latter movement of the operating element being engaged with said stationary part and moved thereby out of engagement with the said locking means.

5. ln sheet turning mechanism, independently operable spring actuated sheet turning means connected to the respective sheets and each includinga shaft, a lug projecting from each shaft, pivoted levers engaged by the respective lugs to hold the sheet turning means against operation, a manually shiftable push button to which one of the levers is operatively connected, whereby said lever is actuated 'when the button is moved to release one of the sheet turning mechanisms and permit the sheet carried thereby to be turned, and means on said push button to coperate with the other lever in a second operation of the button to release the other sheet turning means whereby a secondsheet is turned.

6. In sheet turning mechanism, independently operable spring actuated sheet turning means connected to the respective sheets and each including a shaft, a lug projecting from each shaft, pivoted levers engaged by the respective lugs to hold the sheet turning means against operation, a manually shiftable push button to which one of the levers is operatively connected, whereby said lever is actuated when the button is moved to release one of the sheet turning mechanisms and permit the sheet carried thereby to be turned, and a pawl carried by said push button to cooperate with the other lever in a subsequent operation thereof and release the other sheet turning means whereby the second sheet is turned.

7. In sheet turning mechanism, independently operable spring actuated sheet turning means connected to the respective sheets and each including a shaft, a lug projecting from each shaft, pivoted levers engaged by the respective lugs to hold the sheet turning means against operation, a manually shiftable push button to which one of the levers is operatively connected, whereby said lever is actuated when the button is moved to release one of the sheet turning mechanisms and permit the sheet carried thereby to be turned, a pawl carried by said push button to coperate with the other lever in a subsequent operation thereof and release the other sheet turning means, whereby the second sheet is turned, and means for disengaging said pawl from the latter lever.

8. In sheet turning mechanism, separate means for independently turning a plurality of music sheets, individual spring-held locking levers releasably holding the respective sheet turning means against operation, a spring-held manually operable element directly co-acting with one of the levers in one operation of said element to move said lever and permit one of the sheets to be iii-1 turned, and means coperatively engaged with the other of said levers in a subsequent operation of said element to move the latter lever and permit of the turning movement of a second sheet.

9. In sheet turning mechanism, independently operable sheet turning means adapted to be connected to the respective sheets, individual locking levers releasably holding the respective sheet turning means to hold the same against operation, a spring connected to each lever and urging the same to its locking position, a spring-held push button to which one of the levers is operatively connected, whereby said lever is actuated in one movement of the button and one of the sheet turning means released to permit of the turning of the sheet carried thereby, and means on the push button to coperate with the other lever in a second movement of the button and actuate the same to release the other of the turning means and permit of the turning movement of a second sheet.

10. In sheet turning mechanism, independently operable sheet turning means adapted to be connected to the sheets, individual locking levers releasably holding the respective sheet turning means to hold the same against operation, a spring connected to each lever and urging the same to its locking position, a spring-held push button to which one of the levers is operatively connected, whereby said lever is actuated in one movement of the button and one of the sheet turning means released to permit of the turning of the sheet carried thereby, means on the push button to coperate with the other lever in a second movement of the button and actuate the same to release the other of the turning means and permit of the turning movement of a second sheet, and relatively stationary means to coperate with the means on the push button and move the same out of operative engagement with said lever.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GENERAL HALLECK ROWE.

AWi tnesses WILLIAM A. DRAGoo, GILFORD H. JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

